Chapter XVI · SYSTEMATIC CLASSIFICATION SCHEMES

235. General.

235. General.—Quite a large number of classification schemes have been devised by Continental, American and British librarians, in which books are systematically arranged according to related topics, and marked with a notation which enables any book or subject to be distinguished by its number, for purposes of shelving, charging and cataloguing. All the best known of such schemes are described in Brown’s Library Classification and Cataloguing, London, 1912, and Richardson’s Classification, 1912. It will be sufficient to name the methods of Harris, Perkins and Smith, of America; Edwards and Sonnenschein, of England; Bonazzi, of Italy; and Hartwig, of Germany, which, with the well-known French scheme of Brunet, make up a very interesting collection of international contributions to the classification of books. None of these schemes has been adopted in more than one or two libraries, so that their influence is not sufficiently widespread to make any further description of their details necessary. It will be much more helpful to librarians if the chief systems of classification are mentioned which fulfil every requirement as regards notation and general adaptability to library work, and have been put to the practical test of application in a number of libraries. The systems in question are the Decimal, Expansive, Library of Congress, and Subject, the last being English and the three others American. They have all been extensively adopted, and each exists as a separate printed work, with an index; a vital part of any method of classification. Unprinted schemes, or those of merely theoretical interest, have little practical value, and though every librarian has his own ideas of classification, and generally manages to graft them on to the scheme of some other person, and even to nibble away at his original, it is the best and wisest course to adopt a complete, printed and accessible scheme with as little modification as possible.

236. Decimal Classification.

236. Decimal Classification.—This, the most popular and widely applied of all library schemes, was invented by Melvil Dewey in 1873-76, and has been under revision constantly since, and is to-day in general a very extensive and detailed scheme. As indicated by its name, the system is divided into groups of ten, and from this results an admirable notation of unlimited expansibility.

Its chief divisions are as follows:

000 General Works.

010 Bibliography.

020 Library Economy.

030 General Cyclopædias.

040 General Collections.

050 General Periodicals.

060 General Societies.

070 Newspapers.

080 Special Libraries.

090 Book Rarities.

100 Philosophy.

110 Metaphysics

120 Metaphysics: Special Topics.

130 Mind and Body.

140 Philosophical Systems.

150 Mental Faculties, Psychology.

160 Logic.

170 Ethics.

180 Ancient Philosophers.

190 Modern Philosophers.

200 Religion.

210 Natural Theology.

220 Bible.

230 Doctrinal Theology.

240 Devotional and Practical.

350 Homiletic, Pastoral, etc.

260 Church Institutions.

270 Religious History.

280 Christian Churches and Sects.

290 Non-Christian Religions.

300 Sociology.

310 Statistics.

320 Political Science.

330 Political Economy.

340 Law.

350 Administration.

360 Associations.

370 Education.

380 Commerce, etc.

390 Customs, Costumes, Folklore.

400 Philology.

410 Comparative.

420 English.

430 German.

440 French.

450 Italian.

460 Spanish.

470 Latin.

480 Greek.

490 Minor Languages.

500 Natural Science.

510 Mathematics.

520 Astronomy.

530 Physics.

540 Chemistry

550 Geology.

560 Palæontology.

570 Biology.

580 Botany.

590 Zoology.

600 Useful Arts.

610 Medicine.

620 Engineering.

630 Agriculture.

640 Domestic Economy.

650 Communications.

660 Chemical Technology.

670 Manufactures.

680 Mechanic Trades.

690 Building.

700 Fine Arts.

710 Landscape Gardening.

720 Architecture.

730 Sculpture.

740 Drawing, Decoration.

750 Painting.

760 Engraving.

770 Photography.

780 Music.

790 Amusements.

800 Literature.

810 American.

820 English.

830 German.

840 French.

850 Italian.

860 Spanish.

870 Latin.

880 Greek.

890 Minor Languages.

900 History.

910 Geography and Description.

920 Biography.

930 Ancient History.

940 Europe. - Modern.

950 Asia.

960 Africa.

970 N. America.

980 S. America.

990 Oceanica and Polar Regions.

This scheme is published separately as Tables and Index of the Decimal Classification and relative Index for arranging and cataloguing Libraries, Clippings, Notes, etc., by Melvil Dewey, Boston, and has been largely expanded, with an elaborate additional apparatus of form and relation marks, by the Institut International de Bibliographie, Brussels.

237. Expansive Classification.

237. Expansive Classification.—This system was devised by Charles Amni Cutter, a well-known American librarian, and author of the code of Rules for a Dictionary Catalogue, which has been a text-book for many years. The Expansive Classification has not been adopted to any extent in Britain, but is printed in a series of seven classifications of progressive fullness, and completely indexed, and so becomes one of the methods to be studied.

An outline of the scheme follows:

A Generalia

A General works

Ae General encyclopædias

Ap General periodicals

Ar Reference works

As General societies

B-D Spiritual sciences

B Philosophy

Ba-Bf National philosophies and Systems of philosophy

Bg Metaphysics

Bh Logic

Bi Psychology

Bm Moral philosophy

Br Religion, Natural theology

Bt Religions

Bu Folk-lore

Ca Judaism

Cb Bible

Cc Christianity

Cce Patristics

Ce Apologetics, Evidences

Cf Doctrinal theology

Ck Ethical theology

Cp Ritual theology and Church polity

Cx Pastoral theology

Cz Sermons

D Ecclesiastical history

Dk Particular churches and sects

E-G Historical sciences

E Biography and Portraits

F-Fz History

F Universal history

F02 Ancient history

F03 Modern history

F04 Mediæval history

F11-F99 History of single countries (using local list)

Fa-Fw Allied studies, as Chronology, Philosophy of history, History of civilization, Antiquities, Numismatics, Chivalry, Heraldry

G Geography, Travels

G11-G99 Single countries (using local list)

Ga Ancient geography

Gf Surveying and Map-making

Gz Maps

H-K Social sciences

Hb Statistics

Hc Economics

He Production

Hf Labour

Hi Slavery

Hj Transportation

Hk Distribution, Commerce

Hm Money

Hn Banking

Hr Private finance

Ht Taxation and Public finance

Hu Tariff

Hw Property, Capital

Hz Consumption

I Demotics, Sociology

Ic Crime

Ig Charity

Ih Providence

Ik Education

J Civics, Government, Political science

Ju Constitutions and Politics

K Legislation and Law

Kd Public Documents

L-Q Natural sciences

L General works, Metrics

Lb-Lg Number and space

Lb Mathematics

Lh-Lr Matter and force

Lh Physics

Lo Chemistry

Lr Astronomy

M-Q Matter and life

M Natural history

Mg Geology, incl. Mineralogy, Crystallography, Physical geography, Meteorology, Palæontology

My Biology

N Botany

Cryptogams

Phanerogams

O Zoology

Invertebrates

P Vertebrates

Pg Mammals

Pw Anthropology, Ethnology, Ethnography

Q Medicine

R-Z Arts

R General works, Exhibitions, Patents

Rd-Rg Extractive arts

Rd Mining

Re Metallurgy

Rf Agriculture

Rh Horticulture

Ri Silviculture

Rj Animaliculture

Rq Chemic arts

Rt Electric arts

Ry Domestic arts

Rz Food and Cookery

S Constructive arts, Engineering

Sg Building

Sj Sanitary engineering

Sl Hydraulic engineering

St Transportation and Communication

T Fabricative arts, Machinery, Manufacturing and Handicrafts

U Protective arts, i.e. Military and Naval Arts, Life-preserving, Fire-fighting

V Athletic and Recreative arts, Sports and Games

Vs Gymnastics

Vt Theatre

Vv Music

W Fine arts, plastic and graphic

We Landscape gardening

Wf Architecture

Wk Casting, Baking, Firing

Wm Drawing

Wp Painting

Wq Engraving

Wr Photography

Ws Decorative arts, including Costume

X-Yf Communicative arts (by language)

X Philology

X Inscriptions

X Language

Y Literature

Yf English Fiction

Z Book arts (making and use of books)

Za-Zk Production

Za Authorship

Zb Rhetoric

Zd Writing

Zh Printing

Zk Binding

Zl Distribution (Publishing and Bookselling)

Zp Storage and Use (Libraries)

Zu Description (Zu Bibliography; Zx Selection of reading; Zy Literary history; Zz National bibliography)

This scheme is published separately as Expansive Classification: the first six Expansions, by C. A. Cutter, Boston, 1891, etc., and a seventh expansion of the work is being issued under the supervision of W. P. Cutter, nephew of the author, but no parts have been published for several years.

238. Library of Congress.

238. Library of Congress.—This is the elaborate and detailed scheme applied to the great Library of Congress, and is the work of its classification department. Its outline (1909) is based upon that of the Expansive scheme of Cutter which is shown above, but is varied to meet what are thought to be the special needs of the American national library. Each of the classes has been published separately in convenient form with an index.

The main classes and divisions of the Library of Congress Classification are as follows:

A General Works. Polygraphy

AC Collections. Series. Collected Works

AE Encyclopædias

AG General reference works (other than encyclopædias)

AI Indexes

AM Museums

AN Newspapers

AP Periodicals

AS Societies. Academies

AY Year-books. Almanacs

AZ General history of knowledge and learning

B Philosophy. Religion

B-J Philosophy

B Collections. History. Systems

BC Logic

BD Metaphysics

Introductions to Philosophy. Treatises

Epistemology. Theory of knowledge

Onotology

Cosmology.

Teleology

Philosophy of religion

BF Psychology

BH Esthetics

BJ Ethics

BL-BV Religion. Theology

BL Religions. Mythology. Cults

BM Theology. Generalities

BN Historical (Church history)

BQ Exegetical (Bible, etc.)

BS Systematic (Dogmatics. Apologetics)

BV Practical (Pastoral. Homiletics. Liturgies)

C History—Auxiliary sciences

CA Philosophy of history

CB History of civilization (general and general special only)

CC Antiquities. General

CD Archives. Diplomatics

CE Chronology

CJ Numismatics

CN Epigraphy. Inscriptions

CE Heraldry

CS Genealogy

CT Biography

D History and Topography (except America)

D General history

DA British history

20-690 England

700-749 Wales

750-890 Scotland

900-995 Ireland

DB Austria-Hungary

DC France

DD Germany

DE Classical antiquity

DF Greece

DG Italy

DH-DJ Netherlands

1-399 Belgium and Holland

901-921 Belgium

901-916 Luxemburg. Holland

DK Russia

100-400 Russia. General.

401-438 Poland

451-470 Finland

751-999 Russia in Asia

DL Scandinavia

1-81 Scandinavia. General

101-296 Denmark

301-398 Iceland

401-595 Norway

601-996 Sweden

DP Spain and Portugal

1-462 Spain

500-902 Portugal

DQ Switzerland

DR Turkey and the Balkan States

DS Asia

DT Africa

DU Australia and Oceania

E-F America

E America (general) and United States (general)

F United States (local) and America outside of U.S.

G Geography. Anthropology

G Geography. Voyages. Travel (general)

GA Mathematical and astronomical geography

GB Physical geography

GC Oceanology and oceanography

GD Biography

GF Anthropogeography

GN Anthropology. Somatology. Ethnology. Ethnography, (general). Prehistoric archæology

GR Folk-lore

GT Culture and civilization. Manners and customs

GV Sports and amusements. Games

H Social Sciences. General

HA Statistics

HB Economics, Theory

Economic history.

National production, economic situation (by countries)

HD Economic history. Organization and situation of agriculture and industries

Land. Agriculture

Corporations

Labour

Industries

HE Transportation and communication

HF Commerce, including tariff

HG Finance

Money

Banking

Insurance

HJ Public finance

HM Sociology. General and theoretical

HN Social history. Social reform

Social groups

Family, marriage, women

Associations, secret societies, clubs, etc.

Communities: Urban, Rural

Classes. Aristocracy, third estate, bourgeoisie, peasantry, labouring classes, proletariate, serfs

Nations. Races

HV Social pathology. Philanthropy. Charities and corrections

HX Socialism. Communism. Anarchism

J Political science. Documents

1-9 Official gazettes

10-99 United States

100-999 Other countries.

JA General works

JC Theory of state

JF Constitutional history and administration. General

JK United States

JL Other American States

JN Europe

JQ Asia, Africa, Australia, and Pacific Islands

JS Local Government

JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration

JX International law

K Law

L Education. General works

LA History of education

LB Theory and practice. Educational psychology. Teaching

LC Special forms, relations, and applications

LD Universities and colleges

LE Other American

LF Europe

LG Asia, Africa, Oceania

LH University, college, and school magazines, etc.

LJ College fraternities and their publications

LT Text-books (general only; special text-books go with their subjects, B-Z)

M Music

ML Musical literature

MT Theory

N Fine Arts. General

NA Architecture

NB Sculpture and related arts

NC Graphic arts in general. Drawing and design

ND Painting

NE Engraving

NF Photography (in art). See TR

NK Art applied to industry. Decoration and ornament

P Language and Literature

Philology and Linguistics

PA Classical philology

1-199 General

201-891 Greek languages

1001-1151 Mediæval and modern

2001-2899 Latin language

PB Modern European languages. General works

Celtic language

Romance languages

Teutonic languages

General

Gothic

Scandinavian

PE English

PF Frisian

Dutch

German

PG Slavic languages

Lithuanian

Lettish

PH Finnish

Hungarian

Albanian

Basque

PJ Oriental languages. General works

Hamitic

Semitic

PK Indo-Iranian

Armenian

Caucasian

PL Languages of Eastern Asia, Oceania, Africa

PM Hyperborean languages

American languages

PN-PV Literary History. Literature

PZ Fiction

Q Science. General

QA Mathematics

801-999 Analytic mechanics

QB Astronomy

281-349 Geodesy

QC Physics

81-119 Weights and measures

801-999 Terrestrial magnetism and meteorology

QD Chemistry

901-999 Crystallography

QE Geology

cf. BG, GC

351-499 Mineralogy and petrology

701-999 Palæontology

QH Natural history

201-299 Microscopy

301-999 General biology

QK Botany

QL Zoology

801-999 General anatomy and embryology

QM Human anatomy

QP Physiology

QR Bacteriology

R Medicine. General

RA State medicine. Documents Public health

Medical climatology. Hospitals

Jurisprudence

RB Pathology

RC Practice of medicine

RD Surgery

RE Ophthalmology

RF Otology. Phrenology. Laryngology

RG Gynecology and obstetrics

RJ Pediatrics

RK Dentistry

RL Dermatology

RM Therapeutics

RS Pharmacy and materia medica

RT Nursing

RV Botanic, Thomsonian and Eclectic medicine

RZ Miscellaneous schools and arts

S Agriculture. Plant and Animal Industry

General agriculture, soils, fertilizers, farm implements, etc.

SB General plant culture, including field crops. Horticulture. Landscape gardening and parks. Pests and diseases

SD Forestry

SF Animal husbandry. Veterinary medicine

Fish culture and fisheries. Angling

SK Hunting. Game protection

T Technology. General

TA-TH Building and Engineering Group

TA Engineering. General. Civil engineering

TC Hydraulic engineering (harbours, rivers, canals)

TD Sanitary and municipal engineering

TE Roads and pavements

TF Railroads

TG Bridges and roofs

TH Building construction

9111-9600 Fire prevention, fire extinction

TJ-TL Mechanical Group

TJ Mechanical engineering

TK Electric engineering and industries

TL Motor vehicles. Cycles. Aeronautics

TN-TR Chemical Group

TN Mineral industries

TP Chemical technology

TR Photography

TS-TX Composite Group

TS Manufactures

TT Trades

TX Domestic science

U Military Science. General

UA Armies. Organization and distribution

UB Administration

UC Maintenance and transportation

UD Infantry

UE Cavalry

UF Artillery

UG Military engineering

UH Minor services

V Naval Science. General

VA Navies. Organization and distribution

VB Administration

VC Maintenance

VD Seamen

VE Marines

VF Ordnance

VG Minor services

VK Navigation

VM Shipbuilding and marine engineering

Z Bibliography and Library Science

239. Subject Classification.

239. Subject Classification.—This, the most recent British scheme, is the work of the author of this manual, James Duff Brown; is a complete, homogeneous, detailed and well-indexed scheme, and is selected for notice as being generally applicable to British libraries of all kinds, although it is not likely to oust the Decimal scheme from its priority of place. It is based on the principle of placing all topics in a logical sequence; of keeping applications of theory as close as possible to the foundation theory; and of providing one place only for each important topic. The complications and intersections of human knowledge prevent anything more than an approximation to this ideal, but it has been found in actual practice to be a classification scheme which works easily and harmoniously.

The following extracts from its valuable introduction will give the best view of the principles on which the system is based:

“The Order of the Main Classes.—The reasons which determined the adoption of a certain sequence of classes in this system may be briefly set forth here, instead of any argument or attempt to justify the order. The battle which has raged, and is still raging, among scientists, as to the best and most desirable order in which to arrange the great branches of human knowledge in order to produce a ‘hierarchy,’ must deter a non-scientific classifier from arguing on such a complicated and difficult topic. It will, therefore, suffice if I briefly describe the main classes in their order and give reasons why they were assigned to the places they occupy.

“A Generalia.—The divisions of this main class comprise most of the rules, methods and factors which are of general application, and which qualify or pervade every branch of science, industry or human study. They are universal and pervasive, and cannot be logically assigned to any other single main class as peculiar or germane to it.

“B, C, D Physical Sciences.—Matter, force, motion and their applications are assumed to precede life and mind, and for that reason the material side of science, with its applications, has been selected as a foundation main class on which to construct the system.

“E, F Biological Science.—Life and its forms, arising out of matter, occupy the second place among the main classes, and here are put general biological theories and facts, followed by plant and animal life, each in an ascending order from low to high forms of organization.

“G, H Ethnological and Medical Science.—Human life, its varieties, physical history, disorders and recreations, follows naturally as a higher development of plant and animal life, and completes the biological chain.

“I Economic Biology and Domestic Arts.—The applications of plant and animal life to human needs, placed midway between the physical and mental attributes of man as indicating the primitive exercise of mind, and to assemble in one sequence the chief biological subjects. As a matter of practical convenience, rather than logical necessity, it was thought better to keep composite subjects like Agriculture, Clothing, Foods, etc.—involving questions of origin, use and manufacture—all in one place, close to the main classes from which they are derived, rather than to distribute them more closely at Botany or Zoology.

“J, K Philosophy and Religion.—Mental attributes, order and beliefs of human life, following naturally from its physical basis, and primitive manifestation in the instinct of procuring food and clothing.

“L Social and Political Science.—Social order and laws of human life. Placed here because, although society or family and other tribal organizations may have preceded religion, mind as embodied in philosophy must have preceded both.

“M Language and Literature.—Communication and recording in human life. The spoken, written and printed word, which grew as a necessity out of the primitive operations of mind.

“N Literary Forms.—The products of communication and recording in human life in their more imaginative forms; placed here on the ground that fable probably preceded more formal history.

“O-X History, Geography, Biography.—The actions, records and descriptions of human life and its dwelling-place. Arranged in this order and at this place because of their intimate connexion. Geography, although logically related to Physiography and Biography to Ethnology, are, nevertheless, as a matter of practical utility, and because of the literature actually existing, more naturally grouped here than separated.

“The order of the classes may, therefore, be briefly described as expressing:

1. Matter.

2. Life.

3. Mind.

4. Record.”[8]

The only serious objection which has been urged against this scheme is the inclusion of Education, Logic, Mathematics, and the Graphic and Plastic Arts in Generalia. This course is, however, fully justified by the somewhat amusing circumstance, that the critics are unable to agree among themselves as to the exact logical place of any of the series. While one insists that Logic should be placed in Philosophy, he is bound to admit that it ought not to be separated from Mathematics, while on the other hand he cannot allow arithmetic, book-keeping and geometry to invade the sacred temple of the philosophers. Education is even a greater stumbling-block. It is variously assigned to Psychology, Sociology, Philology and Ethnology by different critics, and Fine Arts is equally perplexing. In actual practice in a library, there is really no inconvenience felt in connexion with the distribution of any of these classes, and as they do not originate naturally from any of the other main divisions, but qualify and pervade the whole of them like an encyclopædia, or other general work, it will be found best to retain them where they are. The other important features of this system are described below.

The Categorical Tables form an important feature, whereby a separate series of forms, phases and other qualifying factors are provided, which can be applied to every subject, and so relieve the main tables from congestion. They are applicable to the very largest libraries, and give ample means of subdividing any topic, however large it may be. They can also be used with other systems of classification, as they are independent of the main tables and form a series of parallel numbers by which the classification numbers can be themselves classified. For example, a library may have 1000 books on a subject like Architecture in general, to all of which the simple number B300 would be applied. By adding the qualifying numbers from the Categorical Tables, which appear after a point, and are invariably the same when applied to any subject, the following sub-classification would result, which has the effect of assembling all related forms of books together:

B300 Architecture, General

B300·1 — Bibliography

B300·2 — Dictionaries

B300·3 — Text-books, Systematic

B300·4 — — Popular

B300·6 — Societies

B300·7 — Periodicals

B300·10 — History

and so on.

If, in addition to those general works, the library possessed several hundreds of books on Building Construction, B305, these would be subdivided in exactly the same manner, as would also any subdivision of the same topic, such as Foundations, Walls, Roofs, etc.:

B305·1 Building Construction, Bibliography

B305·3 — — Text-books, Systematic

B305·10 — — History

B329·1 Roofs, Bibliography

These categorical tables are therefore of universal application, and as they contain nearly one thousand qualifying forms, phases, etc., it will be seen that their use will greatly simplify the practical work of classification.

As will be seen by the above examples, the symbols of the Notation are perfectly simple combinations of letters and numbers. By treating the numbers decimally, it is possible to intercalate as many new ones as desired between any of the existing numbers, thus providing an infinity of places.

The Index is very extensive in the number of subject-words it contains, and comprises practically every topic likely to be encountered in ordinary practice. The Classification Tables themselves provide places somewhere for every remote subject, and the Introduction describes how such out-of-the-way matters are to be treated.

It is impossible to set forth all the features of this system of classification—its elaborate series of biographical numbers for arranging Fiction, Poetry and other alphabetical classes; its new system of short date-marks; its rules for the arrangement of special subjects, authors, etc.; and its notes on the simplification of the whole subject of book classification. Reference can only be made to the Summary Table of Main Classes for an idea of the size and style of the book.

Summary Table of Main Classes, with Abridged Notation

Main Classes

A—Generalia

B-D—Physical Science

E-F—Biological Science

G-H—Ethnology, Medicine

I—Economic Biology, Domestic Arts

J-K—Philosophy and Religion

L—Social and Political Science

M—Language and Literature

N—Literary Forms, Fiction, Poetry

O-W—History and Geography

X—Biography

A Generalia

A0 Generalia

A1 Education

A3 Logic

A4 Mathematics

A5 Geometry

A6 Graphic and Plastic Arts

A9 General Science

B, C, D Physical Science

B0 Physics, Dynamics

B1 Mechanical engineering

B2 Civil engineering

B3 Architecture

B5 Railways, Vehicles

B6 Transport, Shipbuilding

B8 Naval and Military science

C0 Electricity

C1 Optics

C2 Heat

C3 Acoustics

C4 Music

C8 Astronomy

D0 Physiography

D1 Hydrography, Hydrostatics

D2 Meteorology, Pneumatics

D3 Geology, Petrology

D4 Crystallography, Mineralogy

D6 Metallurgy, Mining, Metal trades

D7 Chemistry

D9 Chemical technology

E, F Biological Science

E0 Biology

E1 Botany

E2 Cryptogams

E3 Phanerogams

F0 Zoology

F1 Metazoa

F2 Mollusca

F3 Insecta

F4 Pisces (Fishes)

F5 Reptilia

F6 Aves (Birds)

F7 Mammalia

G, H Ethnology and Medicine

G0 Ethnology

G2 Human Anatomy and Physiology

G3 Pathology

G4 Materia medica

G5 Therapeutics

G6 Functions, Organs, Osteology

G7 Nervous system

G8 Sensory system

G9 Respiratory system

H0 Blood and Circulation

H1 Digestive system

H2 Urinary system

H3 Reproductive system

H4 Skin and Hair

H5 Parasitical and Infectious diseases

H6 Ambulance, Hospitals, Hygiene

H7 Physical Training and Exercises

H8 Field sports

H9 Recreative arts

I Economic Biology, Domestic Arts

I0 Agriculture, Dairy farming

I1 Veterinary medicine

I2 Milling, Gardening, Forestry

I3 Wood-working

I4 Textile manufactures

I5 Clothing trades

I6 Costume. Jewellery

I7 Vegetable and Animal products

I8 Foods and Beverages

I9 Gastronomy. Domestic economy

J, K Philosophy and Religion

J0 Metaphysics

J1 Æsthetics, Psychology

J2 Ethics

J3 Philosophy

J4 Theology, Religion, general

J5 Mythology, Folk-lore

J6 Church doctrines

J7 Fasts and Festivals

J8 Church Government

K0 Non-Christian churches

K1 Bible

K3 Christology

K4 Early and Eastern Christian churches

K5 Monachism

K6 Roman Catholicism

K7 Protestantism. Episcopacy

K8 Nonconformist churches

K9 Presbyterian and other churches

L Social and Political Science

L0 Social science

L1 Political economy

L2 Government

L3 Central and Local administration

L4 Law

L5 Trials. Actions

L6 Criminology. Penology

L7 Contracts. Property

L8 Commerce and Trade

L9 Finance

M Language and Literature

M0 Language, general

M1 Literature, general

M2 African Languages and Literature

M2-3 Asiatic Languages and Literature

M3 Malayan-Polynesian Literature

M4 European (Latin, etc.) Literature

M5 European (Teutonic)

M6 American

M7 Palæography. Bibliography

M8 Printing, Bookbinding

M9 Library economy

N Literary Forms

N0 Fiction

N1 Poetry

N2 Drama

N3 Essays and Miscellanea

O-W History and Geography

O0 Universal history

O1 Archæology

O2 Universal geography

O3 Africa, North

O4 Egypt

O5 East Africa

O6 Central Africa

O7 South Africa

O8 West Africa

O9 African Islands

P Oceania and Asia

P0 Australia

P1 Polynesia, Micronesia, etc.

P2 Malaysia

P29 Asia

P3 Japan

P4 China

P5 Farther India. Malay States

P6 India

P88 Afghanistan

P9 Persia

Q, R Europe (South, Latin, etc.)

Q0 Europe, general

Q1 Turkey in Europe

Q12 Turkey in Asia

Q2 Palestine, Arabia

Q3 Greece

Q4 Balkan States

Q5 Italy

R0 France

R6 Spain

R8 Portugal

S, T Europe (North, Teutonic, Slavonic)

S0 Russia in Europe

S15 Poland

S2 Finland

S25 Russia in Asia

S3 Austria

S34 Bohemia

S4 Hungary

S5 Switzerland

S6 Germany

T0 Netherlands

T1 Holland

T2 Belgium

T5 Denmark

T6 Norway

T8 Sweden

U, V British Islands

U0 Ireland

U2 Wales

U3 England

V0 Scotland

V5 United Kingdom

V6 British Empire

W America

W0 America, general

W02 Canada

W1 United States

W5 Mexico

W6 Central America

W63 West Indies

W7 South America

W72 Brazil

W76 Peru

W78 Paraguay

W8 Argentina

W83 Chili

W9 Polar Regions

X Biography

X0 Collective and Class

X08 Heraldry

X2 Portraits

X3 Individual Biography

240. Adjustable Classification.

240. Adjustable Classification.—The Subject Classification is the second scheme invented by Brown which has achieved success. The earlier scheme was the Adjustable Classification for Libraries, with Index, London, 1898, and is interesting as the forerunner of the much larger subject scheme. Only the main classes are given here:

A Science

B Useful Arts

C Fine and Recreative Arts

D Social Science

E Philosophy and Religion

F History and Geography

G Biography

H Language and Literature

J Poetry and Drama

K Prose Fiction

L Miscellaneous

This initial alphabetic notation is divided by a progressive numerical notation, of which the following is a sample:

D Social Science

2-8 General

10-92 Manners, Customs, etc.

94-150 Political Economy

152-272 Government and Politics

274-354 Law

356-358 Commerce, Finance

400-424 Communications

426-484 Education